Page 15 of Illegal Formation
Marcus pretended to swipe a strand of hair that didn’t exist back from his face, pursing his lips coyly. “I do be kicking higher than all of you bitches, don’t I?” He took a sip. “And I’m not trying to say I don’t love it. I’m just saying Ialsolove my free time and I know we’re about to have approximately zero hours of it.”
“Right? My family keeps asking when they can visit and I’m like, uh… in the next four weeks, or be prepared to see me for only an hour a day — when I’m brushing my teeth, washing my face, and getting ready to pass out.” Darcy shook her head before smiling up at Ivana Adore, who was walking around with a bucket collecting tips. Darcy slid a twenty in before gushing to the gorgeous drag queen about how amazing she was.
Once we were alone again, I tilted my glass toward Darcy. “That’s sweet. Will they adopt me and Marcus here?”
“God knows my family isn’t trying to visit any time soon,” Marcus said with a shake of his head.
“Mine don’t even know I live here yet.”
That made both Marcus and Darcy balk, a slow blink shared between them before Darcy asked, “How do they not know that?”
“Do you forget that I’m a twenty-nine-year-old woman? It’s not like I have to check in for curfew,” I said.
“I don’t think nearing thirty means your family stops caring you exist,” Marcus shot back.
He had a point, and knowing that the distance from my family was my choice, whereas his was not, made my heart squeeze.
I reached over to hold his hand, mouthingI love you.
“Love you, too,” he said out loud. “Now answer my question, you little queen of deflection.”
I shrugged, settling back into my seat. “I’m kind of a nomad. I don’t typically like to stay put for too long. Last my parents heard of my whereabouts, I was living with three other roommates in Austin.”
“How long ago was that?” Marcus asked.
“October.”
“Of last year?!” Darcy’s mouth hung open, but then sadness visibly overwhelmed her features — from her downturned lips to the pinch between her brows. “They don’t check on you?”
My defenses rose immediately. The last thing I needed was anyone’s pity.
“They do. I just choose not to share much.” I took a long pull, welcoming the bubbles from the champagne. “Trust me — unless I miraculously come into a law degree or marry into an aristocracy, they don’t want to hear what I’ve been up to. It would just mean they’d have to pretend to care and that they’re happy for me, and that’s not fun for anyone involved.”
It stung even as I joked about it, the smile on my lips too tight. But I couldn’t stand the sad puppy dog look on Darcy’s face for one second longer.
“I’ll text them right now if that makes you feel better.”
“Yes,” Darcy said. “A phone call would—”
“A text is the best you’ll get,” I cut in.
I made a show of pulling out my phone and tapping into the group chat with my mom and dad. Then, I read the text aloud as I typed it.
Me:Hey, hope you guys are well. Just wanted to let you know I live in Seattle now. I’m dancing for the Seahawks.
“There,” I said, shoving my phone away. Before Darcy could ask any other questions, I changed the subject. “Okay, so the long days may not be something to look forward to this summer and fall, but you know what Iamexcited for? Our cute ass uniforms.”
“Girl, don’t even get me started,” Marcus said, holding up both hands. “The way my ass is going to cause car accidents in those little leggings?!” He bit his lip. “They’re not ready.”
“And we have the flag football event next week!” Darcy chimed in — not before she gave me a look that told me we weren’t going to just drop the family drama altogether, though. “I feel like that really kicks it all off, you know? Community events, the calendar shoot, and then before we know it… practices and games!”
“Who do you think will be picked for the calendar?” Marcus asked.
“Probably all veterans,” I surmised. “But they’d be crazy not to have you in there with these abs of stone.”
I patted his stomach, which felt more like a marble slab, and he lifted his shirt to appease me with a little wink.
“That and this mustache,” he said, smoothing his fingers over the dark hair dusting his lip. “I should be the cover girl, honestly.”
